Third baseman Travis Shaw slugged the first two home runs of his major league career and had four RBIs as the Boston Red Sox overcame another shaky start from Joe Kelly in an 11-7 win over the Tampa...

Cody Ross says Red Sox lied to him during negotiations

The Sports Xchange

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Cody Ross said the Boston Red Sox lied to him last winter while the two sides were in contract negotiations.

Ross was coming off a one-year, $3 million contract with Boston in which he hit 22 home runs. After talks broke down, Ross ended up signing a three-year, $25 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Once I got into free agency, I didn’t drive the price up or do anything that would possibly affect me coming back here,” Ross told Boston radio station WEEI. “I just wanted fair value and fair years. They weren’t willing to go there — for whatever reason, I have no idea.

“They told me that they didn’t want to sign guys to long-term deals, and then they gave (Shane) Victorino a three-year deal, and then (Mike) Napoli a three-year deal or four-year deal, whatever it was. So, basically they lied to my face. At that point, I kind of got a bad taste in my mouth and wanted to move on, and that was it.

“It is what it is. Like I said, it was a great time being here.”

Napoli’s deal was later shortened to one year because of health concerns.

Ross, 32, is batting .271 with six home runs in 86 games this year for Arizona